McCain’s housing problem
Can Obama use his rival’s many homes to make the elitist label stick?
What happened
John McCain said in an interview Wednesday that he couldn’t remember how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own. “I’ll have my staff get to you,” he told Politico reporters. (Politico) Barack Obama’s campaign promptly aired a TV ad (video of ad via YouTube) capitalizing on the comment to paint McCain as a millionaire who is out of touch with ordinary Americans. (The Wall Street Journal via Google News) McCain’s campaign shot back that Obama lives in a “frickin’ mansion.” (The Washington Post's The Trail blog)
What the commentators said
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This gaffe was quite a gift for Obama, said David Yepsen in the Des Moines Register. In an instant, McCain lost any chance to use a “man-of-the-people schtick” for the rest of the campaign. “Just as George H.W. Bush looked out of touch when he didn’t seem to know what a grocery store scanner was, now McCain looks way out of touch to Americans struggling to pay their bills and their mortgages.”
This should certainly help Obama get rid of the elitist label and stamp it on McCain, said Jennifer Skalka in National Journal’s The Hotline On Call blog. It will be tough for Republicans to argue that “Obama’s affection for arugula” sets him apart from regular guys more than McCain’s real-estate portfolio does.
This is not the winner Obama thinks it is, said Mark Hemingway in National Review Online’s The Corner blog. At least the McCains paid for their houses, or at least Cindy the beer heiress did. Obama bought his with the help of Tony Rezko, who was just found guilty of wire fraud, mail fraud, corrupt solicitation, and money laundering.
Obama will regret playing this card, said Hugh Hewitt in his Townhall blog. “Class rhetoric rarely works,” and it seems especially unwise “when you have John Kerry as your nominee emeritus.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
McCain would not have "responded so violently" if he didn't know that this "attack is potentially devastating in an election that is likely to be all about economic issues,” said John Dickerson in Slate. But Obama could be the bigger loser because stooping to such a personal attack could “damage his brand.” He certainly can’t claim he is “lifting our politics out of the gutter” now.
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published